Charleston Travel Guide

The Charleston travel guide is packed full of helpful info. With major interstate connections, an international airport, Greyhound bus depot and an Amtrak train station, Charleston is easily accessible from anywhere in the country.

Charleston Travel By Car

Charleston is centrally located on the coast of South Carolina between Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head. Interstate 26 has it's terminus in Charleston and connects with Interstates 20, 85, 40, 77 and 95 from the North. Hwy 17 runs through Charleston and connects with Interstate 95 from the South. Interstate 526, the outer beltway, begins at Hwy 17 in the West Ashley area of Charleston where it loops around to the Charleston Airport and then across the Cooper River to Daniel Island before it ends in Mt Pleasant.

Charleston is easily accessible by car from the nearby cities listed below.

Charleston International Airport

The airport, which recently completed a 200 million dollar renovation, is located in North Charleston about 15 minutes from the downtown historic district. The airport is located next to the Air Force Base and shares the airfield facilities jointly with the United States Air Force.

Taxis to downtown cost about $30; shuttles arranged by Airport Ground Transportation cost about $15/person to downtown. Taxis and shuttle typically run from 5:00am - 12:30am. CARTA operates a local bus service, Bus 11, to downtown hourly on weekdays. Uber and Lyft pick up at the airport and there is also a rental car pavilion located next to the baggage claim area. Interstate 526 connects the airport with Interstate 26, which in turn terminates just north of historic downtown at U.S. 17.

Charleston Travel By Train

The Amtrak station is about 10 miles from Downtown Charleston. You can get from the station to downtown by taking a taxi, local bus service, Uber or Lyft. Information is available at the station.

Amtrak coaches have reclining seats, observation domes, air-conditioning and snug bunks. Taking the train may not be the fastest way to travel but the slow pace is perfect for sightseeing, or you can go for a stroll, enjoy a meal in the dining car, make friends in the bar or watch a movie. At night a gentle rocking and the steady rhythm of the wheels are sure to lull you to sleep.

The Palmetto and Silver Service trains (the Silver Meteor and the Silver Star) offer service between New York, Washington, Charleston, Savannah, Jacksonville, Orlando, and Tampa/Miami.

The Charleston Greyhound Station is approximately 7 miles from Downtown. The best way to get from the bus station to downtown Charleston is by taxi, local bus service, Uber or Lyft. The station has a listing of taxi phone numbers and information on local bus routes.